Course Material & Notes for AS Media at MPW

The Music Industry

Introduction

This is a study of a particular record label within the contemporary music industry that targets a British audience, including its patterns of production, distribution, marketing and consumption by audiences. This will be accompanied by study of the strategies used by record labels to counter the practice of file sharing and their impact on music production, marketing and consumption.

You will answer a written question (one essay) on this research in your exam next May.

You need an ‘understanding of contemporary institutional processes of production, distribution, marketing and exchange/exhibition at a local, national or international level as well as British audiences’ reception and consumption’ (from the exam spec)

The examiners want some emphasis on your own experience of being media consumer. The overall topic area is Institutions and Audiences so these key concepts should be at the heart of your case study.

The impact of the internet is an important aspect of the music business and in particular your research should look at some of the strategies used by record labels to counter the practice of file sharing.